Adware,
malware, spyware and viruses can bring your system to its knees. They
are detrimental, lowering the performance of your computer. You might
need to replace data. You might lose unique files. Keep the nasties away
from your computer using these ten simple tips.
1. Use Firefox: Internet
Explorer is the most popular browser on the market, controlling over
50% of the market share. The virus and adware creators specifically look
for exploitable vulnerabilities within IE because they know that they
will receive the best return on investment. Your switch to Firefox
prevents some adware from infecting your machine.
2. Scan your PC once a week: Sometimes
adware programmers take a sneaky approach. They will set up their
programs to run quietly in the background to spy upon your activities.
This once a week scan is necessary to remove any of those sneaky bugs.
3. Download from known sites: New
sites for installing adware are popping up all the time. If you find
something that you want to download, make sure that it is from a known
site. A company like Amazon will not steer you wrong, but Bob’s House of
Wares might be a little less trustable. If you are not sure whether you
can trust a site, perform a quick search.
4. Install Adaware: Ad-Aware is
the most popular free adware removal program on the market. It detects,
quarantines and removes adware. It searches for other programs which
may have been installed, highlighting them in an easy to use interface.
This program does not have an anti-virus attached.
5. Do not click on unsolicited email: You
are constantly receiving offers to increase this or improve that
through unsolicited email. Your curiosity may be killing you, but don’t
click on these emails. They accept your click as permission to install
adware, spyware and malware on your PC.
6. Install Antivirus software: Installing
two programs for virus and adware protection is a smart idea. It caters
to the strengths of each program, increasing the overall strength of
your antiadware and antiviral campaign. Some of the best antivirus
software is free, providing real time protection. Programs to look at
would be Avast Antivir and AVG.
7. Don’t install toolbars: Even
some reputable sites install custom toolbars. They slow your system
down and collect information about your surfing habits. While a toolbar
might offer some perks, it may also diminish your experience by dragging
your system to a halt. Toolbars from less reputable places install
adware and sometimes infect your system outright.
8. Look at your task manager: If
anything seems out of place with your computer, take a look at your
task manager. This tells you about all of the programs and processes
which are running on your computer. Examine the processes tab for
anything which you don’t immediately recognize. Perform a web search for
unfamiliar processes.
9. Do not click on popups: Clicking
on a popup usually spells certain doom for your computer. It opens the
door for the viruses and adware that want to infect your machine,
telling these malicious applications to make themselves at home. Stay
away from those constantly advertised screensavers and icons.
10. Trust your gut: If
you don’t feel right about a site, don’t go there. If you are receiving
warnings from the antivirus and antiadware programs which you’ve
installed, don’t go there. If you don’t like the layout of a site, don’t
go there. Trust your instincts about sites.
With proper vigilance, you can keep aggravating adware, spyware and malware from your machine. Trust your instincts. Install Ad-Aware and
an antivirus program. Play it safe. The care you spend in preventing
adware from infecting your machine can save money and time
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